Rev. Ryan's Reflection of the Week

This past Sunday (Nov. 30) we entered into the Christian New Year and the Season of Advent. 

 Here's some points to ponder as we enter a new week:

--I encouraged us to consider living our lives by the pattern of the Christian Year Calendar. 

As a people who live by an "alternative way" as we follow God's way, living our lives by the Christian Calendar is a practical way to live differently through the different seasons of the calendar. Each year, we get to "re-set" our lives. . . it begins in Advent as we await the "arrival" of Jesus anew in our lives, then we follow Jesus through the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany and Lent. We rise anew with Christ in the Spring alongside the seasons of Easter and Pentecost. And then in the last half of the year we pursue the slow, long and steady growth through the season called "ordinary time."  If you'd like to learn more about living your life alongside the Christian Calendar, I would suggest this website link: 

http://www.missioncincinnati.org/blog/2020/1/20/living-into-the-christian-calendar 

 --The first Sunday of Advent is HOPE Sunday We sang songs of hope and anticipation and we heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they said "NO Way!" to the oppressive demands of the King Nebuchadnezzar . . . and emerged "un-singed" from the fiery furnace. I invited us to stand alongside Shad, Mesh and Abed. . . as we seek to stay HOPE-full in the midst of the "fiery" fears that might surround us in these days. We also learned of the phrase "gritty hope" from our Kate Bowler reading.

*And we closed with a prayer for HOPE. . . see the prayer attached to this newsletter.

May HOPE abound in our lives this week. . . as we pray for our living God to lead the way into a new year and new advent season.

Rev. Ryan's Reflection of the Week

What a joy to "hang the greenery" and re-learn of all the Christian messages that are revealed in our decorations that adorn our sanctuary, homes and city! Thanks to all you pitched in an made our "Hanging of the Greens Service" a festive and fun one. It was a great reflection of our community of faith here at Altadore. . . authentic, easy-going, heart-felt, humorous and dearly devoted.

 A couple of points to ponder as we enter into the Season of Advent this Sunday, November 30.

-- For those of us who pay attention to the Christian Calendar. . . it's our HAPPY CHRISTIAN NEW YEAR! Over the past 2 weeks you may have seen (in the church building) the "Christian Calendar" circle and the accompanying description document called "How We Journey with the Liturgical Calendar" (see both of them attached to this newsletter).  At the heart of the Christian Calendar is an invitation to shape our year and our lives with the intentionality and the insights of the Christian Year. . . a yearly cycle of learning and living out the stories of Jesus. . . and learning and living out the stories of the People of God.  I hope you might consider this way of ordering our lives of faith in a way that many other Christians around the world share in. . . we are not alone in this journey of faith!

-- One of my favourite authors/preachers, William Willimon, offers the following comments on Advent: 

". . . Outside, the days grow shorter and another weary year edges toward its close. “Welcome 2026!” we’ll soon say, 
as if the turn of a number alone could bring something new. One year comes, another goes. Not much changes. The same old frustrations, the same old us.

But then the church gives us Advent—a season that keeps time differently. 
Four weeks to pause, to take stock, and to let God reset our understanding of what time really means. 
Advent doesn’t begin with our resolutions or our determination. It begins with God’s decision to show up, to shake things up, to take time for us.

If there is to be a fresh start, it won’t come from our own effort. 
It will come as a gift. We need a God who refuses to stay distant --
a God who steps into our world and does something new among us.

Good news: that is exactly the God we have. 
Advent announces that the Creator of heaven and earth has turned toward us in Jesus Christ -- God stooping low, showing up where we least expect, and right on time."

Rev. Ryan's Reflection of the Week

REV. RYAN'S WEEKLY REFLECTION

Last Sunday we reflected on a passage from Ephesians 4. . . with the sermon title "Grow Us Up!"

I reminded us that all of Paul's Letters are to be read as Love Letters. Paul loved the churches that he journeyed with. . . and 2000 years later, we are to read his letters as letters of love VS letters of shame or letters of the "wagging finger."

 And we learned of the 5 gifts of the Spirit in Ephesians 4:

• Apostles (leaders)

• Prophets (encouragers)

• Evangelists (good news proclaimers)

• Pastors (accompaniers)

• Teachers (mentors)

 And each of us may feel called to 1 of those 5 gifts this week. . . so live into it and be a blessing because you are all gifted children of God. . . .empowered and inspired to share your gifts.

 I also encouraged us to "speak truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). . . how's that going for us this week?

 It's a balanced journey. . . speaking truth, but offering it with a spirit of love. . . and being agents of love to our friends, families and neighbours. . . while also offering words of truth and compassion. 

 God hear our prayers. . . as we love the world this week. . . and offer our gifts to make our church, and our world, a better, kinder place.

 Peace be with you!

Rev. Ryan’s Reflection of the Week

Rev. Ryan’s Reflection of the Week:

Greetings and grace to the saints at Altadore Church!
Thanks for the warm welcome during my first Sunday as Interim Pastor last Sunday.
In my message, I encouraged us to consider the journey of being "Baptist-y Baptists":
A community of faith that recognizes the unique distinctives of being baptist + following Jesus for the good of the world! 
To view the Baptist brochure that I shared, you'll find it attached in this email.
And. . . our "verse of the week" that I encouraged us to reflect on was Matthew 11:29. I encouraged us to imagine Jesus, smiling at us, encouraging us, and saying:
"Learn from me. . . for I am gentle and humble in heart. . . and you will find rest for your souls."
May the joy of the Lord be your strength as we journey towards Sunday.
--Ryan